Curtain-fixture.



No. 66|,043. Patenta'd' Nov. 6, 1,900. a. a. mans.

CURTAIN FIXTURE.

(Application flle'd my 1, 1800.)

um mum UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. DAVIS, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO THE CURTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,043, dated November 6, 1900.

Anplication filed May 1, 1900. Serial No. 15,066. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. DAVIS, acitizen of the United States of America. and a resident of Portland, Cumberland county, State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spring-roller curtains such as are used in cars and to holding devices for the same by which the curtains are held in any desired position against the upward pull of the spring-rollers. In these curtains the curtain-stick is commonly provided with friction heads or ends which act, in conjunction with vertical guides in the casing, to create sufficient friction to hold the curtain, and in some cases these heads or ends are so confined by the guides that they cannot be removed without considerable difficulty.

One object of my present invention is to so construct the curtain-stick and its frictionheads that when the latter are confined by the guides they can be readily disconnected from the curtain-stick proper when it is desired to remove the curtain, as is often the case.

A further object of my invention is to provide for lengthening and shortening of the curtain-stick to suit windows of different widths.

These objects are carried out by means of the devices hereinafter shown and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a curtain constructed according to my invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view with a portion of the curtain-stick and the detachable head in section, and Fig. 2 is a section on the line a: 00 of Fig. 1 looking toward the left.

B represents the spring-curtain roller, and O is the curtain, and these parts may be of any ordinary construction, A being the casing. The curtain is provided at its lower end with a tubular curtain-stick O, and in one end thereof there is a sliding or telescoping extension tubular section It, the inner end of which is made solid, while the outer end is open to receive the shank d of the T-shaped head D. The heads D, of which there is one at each end of the curtain-stick, are held adjacent to the casing by vertical guides, so that they may move vertically, but cannot be removed from the casing without considerable difficulty. As here shown, the heads D are held by flexible guides or cords e, secured by their ends near the top and bottom of the casingand passingth rough longitudinal openings in each head. Friction is maintained by means of a pinj, contained in a recess in the shank d, the pin being forced against the cord by a spring 1; and being held in position by a screw f. Antifriction-rolls (l are pivoted at the ends of the head D. This head and the means of connecting it with'the guide are here described by way of illustration and they form no part of the present invention.

Means are provided for connecting and disconnecting the head D from the tubular curtain-stick by withdrawing the telescoping end far enough so that the shank d will be released when the curtain-stick is removed as far as possible to one side, and means are also provided for holding the telescoping end in its extended position. As herein shown, I make use of a spiral spring 47., which is placed within the tubular curtain-stick O and presses outward against the inner end of the tubular extension k. The inner end of the spring abuts against a stop or pin 0. For the purpose of retracting the extension is against the tension of the spring n I provide a sliding bolt 1', here shown as being located at the center of the curtain-stick, with a rod m connecting it with the tubular extension is and extending through the spiral spring 17,. As here shown, one end of the rod is fixed and the other end is screw-threaded, so that by turning the tubular extension it may be screwed in or out and the tube lengthened or shortened at will.

Means are provided for sliding the bolt r back and retaining it in its retracted position, and for this purpose I provide a longitudinal slot u in the tubular curtain-stick, and a pin 8 is inserted in the side of the bolt, so that it projects outward through the slot. The pin 8 rests normally against the end of the slot too when the tubular extension is out; but when it is to be drawn in the bolt is drawn in and slightly turned, so that the pin 8 will catch on a shoulder v, formed in the side of the slot it. For the purpose of conveniently manipulatingthe bolt TI provide a hole t, into which a pin ma be temporarily fitted. The pin 8 is preferably made short, so that the curtain can closely cover the slot, leaving but a small slit through which to insert the operating-pin. Another advantage of this construction is that as it requires a special tool to retract the bolt the curtain is not liable to be tampered with by passengers.

It will be seen that my curtain can by means of the connection shown be readily disconnected from its ends and removed, leaving the ends in position, so that they do not have to be taken from the guides.

The heads I) may be otherwise confined than by the guides here shown, and the means for connecting and disconnecting will be equally applicable.

I claim-- 1. The combination with a spring-roller curtain of a telescoping tubular curtain'stick therefor, friction ends for said curtain-stick, each having a shank fitting into one end or" said curtain-stick, vertical guides for holding said ends against the casing and means for holding said tube normally in its extended position and means for temporarily shortening it to free it from said ends, substantially as described.

2. The combination With a spring-roller curtain, of a telescoping tubularcurtain-stick therefor, comprising an inner and an outer tube, friction ends for said curtain-stick each having a shank fitting into one end of said on rtain-st-ick, vertical guides for holding said ends adjacent to the casing, a spiral spring within said curtain-stick for holding said inner tube in its outer position and means for temporarily retracting said inner tube to release said ends, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a spring-roller curtain of a tubular curtain-stick having a tubular extension fitting in one end thereof, friction ends for said curtain-stick, each having a shank fitting into one end of the curtain-stick, vertical guides for holding said ends adjacent. to the casing, a spiral spring for forcing said tubular extension outward, a bolt fitting in the curtain-stick, a rod connecting said tubular extension and said bolt rigidly secured to one and connected by a screw-thread with the other, a longitudinal slot in the curtain-slick opposite said bolt, said slot having a shoulder or ofifset, a pin in said bolt projecting out through said slot adapted to catch in said offset when the bolt is drawn back and turned, substantially as described.

Signed at Portland, Maine, this 25th day of April, 1900.

GEORGE H. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

S. W. BATES, L. M. GODFREY. 

